Foundations of Education Staffer Awarded High University Honor

Patricia A. Pleasant's passion for Virginia Commonwealth University comes across in everything she does. A staff member in the VCU Foundations of Education office, Pleasant is known for anticipating the needs of students and faculty and establishing a positive work environment. Her commitment to VCU is unmitigated.

The university recognized her dedication this month by awarding her the 2011 Dorris Douglas Budd Award — one of the university's most important honors.

Established in 1981, the award is named for a VCU secretary to the vice president of administration from 1951 to 1981. Budd’s commitment to the university and her initiative and enhancement of VCU's mission inspired the award, which honors a support staff member who demonstrates exemplary performance and enhances the image and mission of the university and health system.

"This is one of the awards that really matters to VCU," said President Michael Rao, Ph.D., who presented the award.

"I am aware every single day of the role our staff colleagues play in the implementation of Quest" — the university's new strategic plan, Quest for Distinction, Rao said. "It's the quality of [their] interactions that define what we do. We want that positive definition of what it feels like to be part of the VCU family to spread."

For more on the Dorris Douglas Budd Award, including nominees and past recipients, go to http://www.hr.vcu.edu/compensation/rewardddb.html.